"Death to the Pessimistic State of Mind" - Nas Voice: NYK '23 Pre-Season Thread

[Collateral]

I had to leave this here sorry

 

[Wargames]

I had to leave this here sorry

Well Randle’s son is a Knicks fan confirmed.

 

[Collateral]

Well Randle’s son is a Knicks fan confirmed.

Sign that man to a 10 day contract

 

[Knicksman20]

Young D-Rose

 

[Anerdyblackguy]

Don’t let Dream Doll distract you RJ. The real dream is a championship.

 

[Peter Popoff]

 

[Ironman]

Don’t let Dream Doll distract you RJ. The real dream is a championship.

RJ has a girl and he's always been focused

 

[Wargames]

Hey does anyone know where I can get a Spreewell and LJ jersey? I don’t normally cop jerseys but I am in a nostalgic mood

 

[kej718]

Charlie Ward at the end with Murry.

 

[storyteller]

Kevin Lowe's 5 most intirguing players of the NBA Season: Lowe: The 5 most intriguing players this NBA season
- Haliburton
- Edwards
- Hunter
- Pat Williams
- Obi Toppin

Good things happen when Toppin plays, and the Knicks should be in the business of discovering why -- and whether that effect carries over against opposing starters. That success has come despite New York playing Toppin almost exclusively alongside rim-running centers -- marginalizing Toppin's skill as an explosive screen-and-dive guy. When Toppin bolts inside for lobs, he might bump into a center calling for a lob at the same time:

New York could solve this issue by playing Toppin at center or pairing him with Julius Randle, but they likely worry about torpedoing their defense and rebounding -- weak points in Toppin's game. Toppin somehow logged more minutes alongside Jericho Sims than Randle last season, and Tom Thibodeau, New York's head coach, has not seemed interested in exploring the Randle-Toppin duo much more. (I'd do it.)

Toppin has spent too much time chilling in the corners. You spot him bouncing on his toes, begging for some reason to get moving -- to get involved. But when the ball swung to him, he mostly refused open 3s.

"We all saw it -- he wasn't confident in his shot," Thibodeau says.

Defenders ignored him to muck up the paint:
The low-hanging fruit is Toppin becoming a better shooter, and he let it fly in New York's final 10 games when Randle was mostly out injured -- drilling 26-of-58 from deep. He honed that shot over the summer, and swears he's ready to fire.

"I'm super confident, and that's the only thing I needed," Toppin says. "I felt like I had a good shot. It was just about confidence. If I shoot and miss, just shoot the next one. I know that now."

"He got better and he didn't stop," Thibodeau says. "He's always in the gym."

Improved shooting would coax defenders closer to him -- unlocking what could be an explosive pump-and-drive game. Toppin is much more effective roasting defenders in rotation than beating them in static situations.

Even in tight half-court confines, Toppin's game can sing. He is a quick-twitch playmaker on dribble hand-offs and pindowns -- secondary actions that flow out of an initial pick-and-roll involving New York's centers. If Toppin's man lunges to help on the ball-handler, Toppin slips out of screens at turbo speed. He's fast enough to get to the rim before the opposing center crosses the lane to stop him.

"He's one of the quickest I've ever seen getting out of screens," says Anthony Grant, who coached Toppin at the University of Dayton.

He's a nifty passer too, with a knack for the always fun quarterback keeper:

Toppin should set more flare screens, and even run off pindowns -- anything to keep him active. He thrives in a fast-paced ecosystem with lots of ball movement, but New York's starters -- the guys Toppin should play alongside more -- didn't fit that ethos last season. Randle was a ball-stopper. The point guard spot was a sinkhole once the Kemba Walker experiment failed and Derrick Rose got injured. Perhaps Jalen Brunson, some creative coaching and a renewed commitment to passing could remedy that -- and benefit Toppin.

He'll get the offense moving anyway. Toppin is one of the league's most ferocious end-to-end runners, and should be even more dangerous trailing fast breaks this season -- jacking 3s and pivoting into his hand-off game. He can sprint into mismatches, and seal smaller guards under the rim.

"He can run all day," Thibodeau says. "His energy is a gift. It allows us to play at a different pace, and everybody likes that."
Toppin might leak out more than Thibodeau likes -- leaving New York vulnerable on the defensive glass. "We can't run if we don't rebound," Thibodeau says. The general rule, according to Thibodeau: If Toppin challenges a shot up high, run. If he's in the paint, try to secure the rebound and then sprint.

Toppin is a minus defender at both front-court positions, but he tries and talks. His biggest obstacle is a stubborn upright stance that makes it hard for him to slide.

"He's got some flexibility issues," Grant says.

Toppin tried to crouch lower this summer in defending guards -- including Brunson and Chicago Bulls guard Coby White in workouts. "Even if I can't get low, I have to find a way to stay in front of them and contest shots," Toppin says.

Right now, Toppin is a good backup big. If he stagnates or improves only a bit, that's what he'll be. But the actualized version of Toppin is an average defender and major plus on offense -- a true-blue starter. That's what the Knicks need him to be.

 

[Anerdyblackguy]

New York could solve this issue by playing Toppin at center or pairing him with Julius Randle, but they likely worry about torpedoing their defense and rebounding -- weak points in Toppin's game. Toppin somehow logged more minutes alongside Jericho Sims than Randle last season, and Tom Thibodeau, New York's head coach, has not seemed interested in exploring the Randle-Toppin duo much more. (I'd do it.)


I don’t understand why either. Tonight would be perfect to try the Julius-Obi combo because Steven Adams isn’t an offensive threat like that.

 

[Peter Popoff]

I second that. I think Toppin would make a great center on small ball lineups. Not saying start with it as you should utilize Mitch as often as possible but Hart will get into foul trouble and Obi needs more minutes so this helps increase his usage.

 

[Peter Popoff]

I'd never thought I'd say this but I'm eagerly excited to see RJ have a breakout season this year. Something that does not go unnoticed and gives him the well earned recognition he deserves.

 

[Wargames]

All these “play Toppin” at center articles are basically fan fiction for clicks. They got three rim protector centers. Those centers jobs are to get defensive rebounds and then the plan is to get the ball to Toppin who doesn’t try to rebound but runs up court for a transition play. Toppin best functionality right now is to bring transition pressure, then half court offense, and finally ok defense. He has a specific role, in time that might expand but he is a NBA roleplayer. Put him in the wrong role like Center and all you’ll get is dysfunctional basketball or a injured player. Just from a strength perspective Toppin at 5 is a bad idea. This is Mitch’s fourth season and he is finally strong enough to compete with the better Centers in the league. Not even dominate…. Just compete.

The Knicks would have to make a lot of roster and strategy changes to accommodate Toppin at The 5. If we see it it means that either injuries or just bad basketball has Thibs throwing shyt at the wall to see if it sticks.

The main thing to watch is if this team talented enough or not. There aren’t any holes or blatant problems holding them back for once….. since the 90’s.

 

[Peter Popoff]

@Wargames

I agree but almost every team experiments with using a small ball center. Warriors with Green for example. As long as it's not major usage, it's fine. I don't think Sims is getting any major play this season and Mitch/Hart tend to get in foul trouble.